Method for compacting fodder or the like

ABSTRACT

Fodder is converted into shape-retaining blocks or cakes by an apparatus which collects fodder off the ground and subjects it to a preliminary compacting action, thereupon to a twisting action which results in the formation of ropes of convoluted material, and to a final compacting action resulting in conversion of ropes into blocks or cakes of firmly compacted material. The twisting and final compacting actions can be carried out sequentially or simultaneously.

J United States Patent 1151 3,673,951 Romer July 4, 1972 54] METHOD FOR COMPACTING FODDER 3,213,784 10/1965 Bornzin ..l00/D1G. s

OR THE LIKE 3,267,839 8/1966 3,323,445 6/1967 [72] Inventor: Gerhard Romer, Nillbergstr. 13, 3 352 229 1 19 7 Emmi/Saar, Germany 3,386,373 6/1968 Bushmeyer et a] ..100/D1G. 7 221 Filed: Oct. 21, 1968 Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman i 1 PP ,143 Attorney-Michael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Oct. 20 1967 Germany ..P 16 27 903.1 Fdder is inverted Shape-retaining blcks ("cakes by apparatus which collects fodder off the ground and subjects it 52 us. (:1 ..100/38,l00/D1G.4 100/1310. 5 to a Preliminary compacting action, thereupo" a twisting oo DI 6, 100/86, lbollgg 56/1 action which results in the formation of ropes of convoluted 51 1m. (:1. .3301 1s/34,B41f 3/42 material, and w a final compacting action resulting in conver- [58] Field 61 Search ..100/DIG. 4, DIG. 5, DIG. 6, sion of roves into blocks or cakes of firmly compacted materi- 100/ 7 3 40 3 1 9 74 3 5 /1 M al. The twisting and final compacting actions can be carried out sequentially or simultaneously. [56] Refmms (med 7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,284 1/1917 Slathar "1120/40 PATENI'EDJuM :972 3,673,951 saw 10? 5 lnventar: see/mo Rows/2 Worm PATENTEDJUL M972 3.673.951

sum nor 5 In venlor:

' Gen/my ,Qo'mm METHOD FOR COMPACTING FODDER OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for compacting fodder or the like fibrous materials to produce shape-retaining bricks, cylinders, blocks, cakes, wafers or analogous bodies of condensed material.

It is already known to provide a compacting apparatus for grass, clover or like forage materials with a device which collects the material directly off the ground and supplies the thus collected loose material to a compacting device including a compacting wheel and a second wheel which is formed with cells for reception of compacted material. The two wheels are driven and one cell of the second wheel receives a batch of material during each of its revolutions. A drawback of such conventional apparatus is that the material which is fed into cells is in random distribution so that a very high pressure is needed to break and/or otherwise deform stalks, stems or analogous elongated particles in order to produce a shaperetaining body. The pressure must be high enough to prevent expansion of compacted bodies upon expulsion from cells, i.e., the pressure must overcome the innate elasticity of elongated and or leaf-like particles to prevent the finished product from falling apart upon ejection from the cells of the second wheel. It was found that the just described apparatus are suited, to a certain extent, for condensation of leaves but that they are less suitable or totally unsuited for compacting of grass or other materials which consist predominantly or exclusively of stems and/or stalks. Relatively thin and tough blades of grass exhibit a very pronounced elasticity and tend to straighten out upon expulsion from the cells so that the blocks of condensed material grow and lose their original shape or fall completely apart. Moreover, such conventional apparatus cannot accept fodders having a moisture content in excess of between 8 and 12 percent; however, the condensing step must be carried out when the moisture content is about 20 percent so that the apparatus must be equipped with bulky, complicated and costly moistening devices.

It is also known to condense fodder in an apparatus which is provided with means for winding the material so as to form a continuous strand of twisted particles. Such apparatus employ cylindrical or conical drums. The resulting strand is thereupon severed to yield a succession of shorter bodies which are ready for transportation or storage. Such apparatus can treat fodder regardless of its moisture content and the twisting of particles requires the exertion of lesser forces. However, the just described apparatus are not suited for treatment of leaves which cannot be converted into a continuous rope or strand, and their capacity is rather low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide a method according to which fibrous materials which consist predominantly of leaves can be condensed or compacted into shape-retaining bodies with the same facility as materials which consist mainly of blades, stems and/or stalks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method according to which the materials can be condensed irrespective of their moisture content, irrespective of the ratio of shorter particles to longer particles, and irrespective of the resiliency or stiffness of particles.

The method of my invention is employed for the production of shape-retaining bodies of fodder or like preferably fibrous materials. The method comprises a first step of subjecting fibrous material to at least one preliminary compacting action, a second step of subjecting the thus compacted material to a twisting action to convert it into at least one rope or cord of fibrous particles, and a third step of subjecting the material to a final compacting and shaping action. The third step can take place concurrently with or subsequent to the second step. The method may further include the step of introducing into the material at least one additive (such as water, vitamins, salt, molasses or the like) prior to completion of the third step, the

step of changing the temperature of material in the course of at least one of the three first mentioned steps, and/or the step of changing the moisture content of the material. The material may be mowed and/or collected off the ground prior to the first step and the preliminary compacting action may include or consist of at least some twisting of fibrous material.

The first step may include compacting a substantial supply of fibrous material, and the second step may comprise periodically subjecting batches of the thus compacted supply to a twisting action; the third step then comprises subjecting each batch of twisted material to a final compacting and shaping action, for example, by conveying the batches along a confining path wherein the material is subjected at least to radial compacting stresses but preferably to radial and axial compacting stresses. The second and/or third step may further include trimming the ropes and/or compacted bodies, either at their trailing ends and/or at their leading ends.

When a substantial supply of precompacted material is converted into batches or ropes of twisted material, the third step may comprise finally compacting and shaping the ropes individually, i.e., independently of each other, and such final compacting of several batches can take place simultaneously or seriatim.

The first step may further comprise arraying the particles of fibrous material in a predetermined formation, e.g., by twisting or by arranging the stems, stalks and/or blades in parallelism with each other. The twisting of all batches can take place in a single predetermined direction or in several directions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partially horizontal sectional top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar section through a slightly modified apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a third apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fourth apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a self-propelled apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail in the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. II is a fragmentary partly elevational and partly sectional view of a further apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a similar view of still another apparatus;

FIG. 13 illustrates on a larger scale and in section a portion of the drive means in the apparatus of FIG. I] or 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a final compacting unit and further shows the details of a twisting member which can subject precompacted material to a twisting or winding action; and

FIG. 15 is a similar view but showing the details of a modified twisting member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a press 10 which is utilized to form cylinders or analogous bodies of compacted fodder, such as grass, clover or the like. The frame of the press 10 is mounted on wheels 12 and is provided with a coupling 14 which is pivotable in a substantially horizontal plane and serves to attach the press to a trat or or to another suitable towing vehicle, not shown. The press is further provided with an input shaft 16 which is preferably formed with a universaljoint and can receive torque from the power take-off of the towing vehicle.

The press comprises a driven collecting unit 18 here shown as a pickup drum which rotates and travels along the ground to collect grass, clover or other forage plants which are to be compacted to form shape-retaining bodies 26 shown in FIG. 2. The pickup drum 18 delivers material to a feed conveyor 20, here shown as a screw which rotates about a horizontal axis extending in parallelism with the axis of the drum 18. The screw 20 serves as a first compacting means and advances a continuous or discontinuous stream of material into a chamber 30 defined by a housing 22 which accommodates a second compacting or condensing unit 24. The latter converts the material into shape-retaining bodies 26 which are transferred onto the receiving end of a take-off conveyor 28, e.g., an elevator, and this elevator delivers the bodies into a trailer, truck, van or other conveyance (not shown) which trails the press 10 and may be hitched thereto or advances under its own power.

It is clear that the screw 20 can be replaced by a mobile rake, by one or more driven chains, by belts, rollers, drums, plungers or other types of feed conveyors without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention.

The screw 20 feeds a continuous or discontinuous stream of at least slightly compacted material into the chamber 30 of the housing 22. The thus admitted material is subjected to a further preliminary condensing or compacting action during introduction into the chamber 30 and is thereupon subjected to the final compacting action by parts which constitute the condensing unit 24. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the condensing unit 24 comprises a polygonal (preferably square or rectangular) transfer member or piston 32 which is reciproeable in the housing 22 to thereby increase or reduce the volume of the chamber 30 and which carries an array of twelve suitably distributed revolving winding or twisting members 34 forming part of a twisting unit. In the embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 4, the housing defines a cylindrical chamber for a cylindrical piston 32A with eleven differently distributed twisting or winding members.

The strokes of the piston 32 are selected in such a way that the volume of the chamber 30 is reduced to zero when the piston completes a forward stoke, i.e., a leftward stroke as viewed in FIG. 2. The material which is accommodated in the chamber 30 is thereby expelled by way of open-ended cells or channels 36 defined by a nozzle 360 which forms part of the condensing unit 24 and is installed in the housing 22. The bodies 26 are formed during passage of material through the cells 36, and such bodies are automatically advanced to the receiving end of the elevator 28 for transport to the aforementioned conveyance. As stated hereinbefore, the material which is admitted to and is compacted during introduction into the chamber 30 preferably undergoes at least some initial compression under the action of the helix of the screw 20.

An important and advantageous feature of the present invention resides in that the twisting or winding members 34 are caused to rotate while they compel the precondensed material to travel through the cells 36 of the nozzle 36a. Such rotation of twisting members 34 insures that the stems or stalks of the material are wound in the same direction or in desired directions whereby the piston 32 or 32A brings about final compacting or condensation in that it causes the twisting members 34 to force the precompressed and twisted material to travel through the cells 36. Twisting of stems or stalks begins in the chamber 30, and such twisting may be completed in this chamber or during transport of material through the cells 36.

The drive means 38 for rotating the twisting members 34 with reference to the piston 32 derives motion from the input shaft 16 and includes a drive shaft 40 of variable length (this shaft preferably comprises two coaxial sections one ofwhich is telescoped into the other) which is driven by the shaft 16 (preferably by interposition of a suitable overload clutch, not shown). The left-hand end of the shaft 40 (as viewed in FIG. 2) carries a driver gear 42 which rotates each of the l2 twisting members 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the gear 42 is in direct mesh with gears 44 of four adjoining twisting members 34. Four intermediate gears 46, at least one of which meshes with the driver gear 42, are provided to rotate the gears 44 of the remaining twisting members 34. In this embodiment of my invention, the gear train 42, 44, 46 is preferably such that all of the twisting members 34 rotate in the same direction.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the press comprises eleven twisting members, ten of which have gears 44 in mesh with a floating ring gear 48. As shown, the gears 44 of seven outer twisting members mesh with external teeth of the ring gear 48 and the gears 44 of the three twisting members mesh with internal teeth of the ring gear. The three gears 44 which mesh with the internal teeth rotate in a direction which is counter to the direction of rotation of the remaining gears 44 and of driver gear 42. This is often desirable to insure that the twisting members can readily break up precompacted material in the chamber 30 to thus facilitate the passage of broken-up batches or ropes of material into and through the cells 36. The driver gear 42 is directly connected with one of the twisting members and rotates the ring gear 48 and the gears 44. The elements of the gear trains shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are preferably selected in such a way that all of the twisting members 34 are rotated at the same speed or at speeds which are within a predetermined narrow range. These gear trains can be replaced by trains of friction wheels. Moreover, the twisting members 34 of FIG. 3 or 4 can be arranged in the form of one or more helices.

The drive means for reciprocating the piston 32 comprises a crank arm 70 which is coupled to the piston, as at 69, and is driven by a crankshaft 50. The latter is rotated by an infinitely variable belt transmission 52 which receives motion from the input shaft 16. The transmission 52 comprises a first adjustable pulley 54 on the shaft 16 or on a shaft 56 which is driven by the shaft 16, an endless V-belt 58 which is trained over the pulley 54 and over a second adjustable pulley 60, and a shaft 62 which is driven by the pulley 60. The shaft 62 drives one of two bevel gears 64 which transmit torque to the crankshaft 50. The adjusting means for regulating the ratio of the transmission 52 comprises a pressure-responsive detector 66 installed in that portion (68) of the chamber 30 which is located 0pposite the screw 20. The arrangement is such that the speed of the piston 32 is increased in response to increasing pressure in the chamber 30 and vice versa. If desired, the variable speed transmission 52 can be replaced by a constant-speed transmission, especially if the chamber 30 can be placed in communication with a storage compartment (not shown) which receives material when the pressure in the chamber 30 rises above a predetermined maximum desirable value. The aforementioned drive shaft 40 for the twisting members 34 can be coupled directly to the pulley 54 or to the shaft 16 or 56. The manner in which the pulleys 54, 60 are adjustable is well known in the art and forms no part of the present invention. Thus, one flange of each of these pulleys is preferably movable axially toward or away from the other flange in response to signals produced by the detector 66. It is clear that the shaft 40 is installed in such a way that it does not interfere with rotation of the crankshaft 50; this shaft extends through a suitable opening in the piston 32. The aforementioned gear train 42, 44, 46 which rotates the twisting members 34 is installed in an internal compartment of the piston. It is further clear that the piston 32 can accommodate suitable antifriction bearings for the twisting members 34.

It will be seen that the apparatus of FIGS. l3 or the apparatus which embodies the structure of FIG. 4 subjects substantial supplies of fibrous material to a preliminary compacting action which is brought about by the screw 20 and during admission of material into the chamber 30, that the apparatus thereupon converts the thus obtained supplies of compacted material into ropes or cords of mi. .zd particles (such twisting is carried out by the projections or prongs provided at the forward ends of twisting members 34), and that the apparatus thereupon subjects the ropes or cords to a final compacting and shaping action to form shape-retaining bodies 26. Such final compacting and shaping actions are brought about while the ropes formed by the prongs of twisting members 36 are caused to advance along confining paths defined by the cells 36 wherein the particles of ropes are subjected to radial and axial compressive stresses and undergo at least some trimming in a manner to be described in connection with FIG. 14. The apparatus is equally suited for processing of materials which consist predominantly of leaves (such as clover) or which consist predominantly of stems, blades and/or stalks (such as grass). Moreover, the operation of the apparatus is not affected by the moisture content of treated material.

In the just described apparatus, substantial supplies of material are subjected to periodically recurring preliminary compacting action and the thus obtained compacted supplies are simultaneously converted into ropes and blocks or like bodies 26 of compacted and shaped material. This is due to the fact that all of the twisting members 34 perform working strokes at the same time. However, it is also within the purview of my invention to move the twisting members seriatim to thus form a continuous succession of blocks or bodies 26. The fingers of the pickup drum 18 and the helix or helices of the screw 20 further serve to array the particles of collected material in a predetermined formation, preferably in such a way that at least some of the stems, stalks and/or blades are substantially parallel to each other. This facilitates the twisting action of members 34 and insures uniform compacting and shaping action during passage of ropes or cords through the cells 36. Proper arraying of at least some particles prior to twisting and final compacting reduces the energy requirements of the apparatus and insures a more predictable compacting and shaping action. Thus, the pressures which develop during twisting and final compacting and shaping can be readily selected in such a way that the particles of bodies 26 are less likely to undergo mere elastic deformation. Elastic deformation is not desirable because a body which contains a large number of elastic stalks or stems is likely to expand and to lose its desired shape if its particles are permitted to straighten out subsequent to transport through a cell 36.

The pressures and forces necessary to operate the movable parts of the apparatus can be reduced still further if the apparatus is provided with one or more agitating devices which subject the piston 32 or 32A, the housing 22, the feed screw 20, the nozzle 36a and/or the twisting members 34 to a vibrating action.

The aforementioned pressure-responsive detector 66 insures that each body 26 contains substantially the same amounts of finally compacted twisted material. This is achieved by causing the piston 32 to advance at a higher speed when the pressure of material in the chamber 30 is higher; in this way, the twisting members 34 cannot convolute excessive quantities of material while the piston 32 or 32A performs a working stroke. Another important advantage of the detector 66 is that it compensates for eventual fluctuations in the rate at which the screw 20 feeds material into the chamber 30.

It is clear that the piston 32 can be replaced by a stationary guide member or supporting for the twisting members 34, for example, by a wall of the housing 22. Satisfactory results can be obtained if the twisting members 34 perform a twisting and final compacting action which is combined with the shaping action of the nozzle 36a while the ropes or cords of twisted material formed by the members 34 are caused to pass through the cells 36. It is also clear that the number of twisting members can be increased or reduced and that the diameters or cross-sectional areas of all twisting members need not be the same.

The drive for the feed screw 20 preferably comprises an overload clutch which permits the drive to rotate relative to the screw when the latter encounters excessive opposition to admission of additional material into the chamber 30. The

same holds true for the drive which reciprocates the piston 32 and for the drive means 38. Also, the detector 66 or a further detector can be used as a means for regulating the compacting action of the screw 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified drive for twisting members 134. Each of these twisting members comprises a spindle or feed screw 72 which rotates in a spindle nut so that it turns in response to axial movement. Such axial movement is transmitted by connecting rods 170. The nuts which mesh with the feed screws 72 are shown at 7211, and the crankshaft which drives the connecting rods 170 is shown at 150.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a further drive which can effect rotary and axial movements of twisting members 234. This drive comprises a wobble plate 74 having a gear 75 which is driven by a pinion 76 mounted on a drive shaft 78. The gear 75 is rigid with a cam 80 having a triangular or trapeziform axial cross-sectional outline. The inclined face of the revolving cam 80 cooperates with roller followers 82 on a disk 88 which is articulately coupled to a composite spindle nut 84 in the housing 222 of the press. The spindle nut 84 meshes with the spindles 72 of twisting members 234. The connection between the disk 88 and spindle nut 84 comprises a universal joint 86. The followers 82 may constitute the rolling elements of an annular antifriction bearing which is interposed between the disk 88 and cam 80. The rods 234a of the twisting members 234 are arranged on the periphery of a circle and reciprocate in response to rotation of the gear 75. This press preferably comprises an annular chamber 230 which surrounds a centrally located filler or plug 90. Such annular shape of the chamber 230 insures that the rotary and reciprocatory twisting members 234 can readily evacuate from the chamber all of the precompacted material which is thereupon caused to pass through cells 236. The front end portion of each twisting member 34, 134 or 234 has one or more eccentric prongs or the like which cause the stems or stalks of material in the chamber 30 or 230 to become twisted and to form ropes which penetrate through the cells 36 or 236. It will be noted that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6-7 need not employ a piston (such as the pistons 32, 32A of FIGS. 1-4) because the twisting members perform a twisting action and also cooperate in carrying out of a final compacting or condensing action. It can be said that the twisting units of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5-7 cooperate or are combined with the final or second compacting means of such apparatus.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the contents of the chamber 230 are converted into ropes or cords in a series of successive operations, i.e., the twisting members 234 are caused to perform working strokes one after the other rather than simultaneously as in FIG. 2 or 5.

The press of FIG. 8 is a high-capacity press and is provided with its own power plant (e.g., with an internal combustion engine) so that it can travel independently of a tractor or other towing vehicle. Certain details of this press are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; it comprises a wheel-shaped nozzle 92 which is formed with radially extending cells 336 and surrounds a rotary wheel-like carriage 94 for twisting members 334. The carriage 94 is rigidly secured to a crank arm 98 and has an annulus of external teeth 100 meshing with internal teeth 102 of the nozzle 92. FIG. 9 shows that each of the cells 336 has the same diameter and that the diameter of each cell is the same from the inner to the outer axial end. However, it is equally within the purview of my invention to employ a nozzle 92 with cells whose diameters decrease radially outwardly, either gradually or stepwise, or to employ a nozzle with cells of adjustable cross-sectional configuration. This can be achieved by employing a composite nozzle wherein one of the parts is movable by hand with reference to one or more other parts by a hydraulic or pneumatic device to thereby change the capacity and/or configuration of the cells. It is also possible to employ a nozzle defining cells which consist of several merging sections. Such merging sections may have a cylindrical and/or polygonal profile. It is further possible to employ bent or curved cells to bring about increased friction and greater compression of material which is convey d through such cells.

The arrangement may be such that the carriage 94 rotates about a fixed axis and that the nozzle 92 rotates to move the cells 336 seriatim into registry with successive twisting members 334. However, it is equally possible to employ a stationary nozzle 92 and to cause the carriage 94 to orbit in the interior of the nozzle. In each instance, the feed of material into the chamber defined by the nozzle 92 and carriage 94 should take place close to the point where the twisting members 334 move into registry with the cells 336. Thus, and ifthe carriage 94 orbits in the nozzle 92, the worm should preferably be arranged to orbit with the carriage and to feed material into the range of those twisting members 334 which move into registry with the cells 336. The situation is simplified if the nozzle 92 rotates, i.e., if the carriage 94 merely rotates about its own axis but need not orbit about the axis of the nozzle.

The twisting members 334 can be rotated intermittently or continuously. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the twisting members are rotated intermittently by a gear segment 104 or the like which is rigidly affixed to the radially outermost end 106 of the crank arm 98 and is in mesh with successive bevel gears 108 each provided at the inner end of one of the twisting members 334. The twisting members are rotatable but cannot move axially in the carriage 94 and the segment 104 is driven by an eccentric pin 110 mounted in an antifriction bearing 112 of the segment. The crank arm 98 is connected with a shaft 114 which is rotatable in antifriction bearings 116 installed in a disk-shaped portion 118 of the nozzle 92. The internal gears 102 of the nozzle 92 and the external gears 100 of the carriage 94 are separated from the compacting chamber by a sealing element 119. The region where the teeth 100, 102 mesh is denoted by the numeral 120.

The press of FIG. 8 is further provided with a drivers platform which accommodates a seat and a steering wheel. The exact design of the power plant which can drive the wheels 312 and which can operate the elevator 28, pickup drum 18 and worm 20 forms no part of the invention. Such power plant also rotates the shaft 114.

An important advantage of a drive which effects intermittent rotation of twisting members is that these members cannot convolute material at the time they do not register with a cell. This insures that all of the freshly twisted material is invariably admitted into and caused to pass through a cell.

The press which is shown in FIG. 11 comprises a rotary nozzle 122 and a rotary carriage 121. The cells 436 extend radially of the nozzle 122 and discharge bodies of compacted material into a centrally located outlet 146 which can deliver such bodies to a take-off conveyor, not shown, such as the elevator 28 of FIG. 1 or the like. The material is collected off the ground by a pickup drum 18 which feeds the thus collected material to a screw 20. The latter effects some compression of material and delivers it into the range of a further preliminary compressing or compacting unit 124. The latter comprises four driven rollers including larger diameter rollers 126, 128 which deliver material into the range of two smallerdiameter rollers 130, 132. The rollers 126, 128 have transporting elements 134 in the form of teeth, paddles or blades, and the rollers 130, 132 define between themselves a gap through which the compacted material moves into the range of twisting members 434 in the carriage 121. The rollers 126132 rotate about parallel axes and are driven by their respective shafts which can derive motion from the engine of the press or from the power take-off ofa towing vehicle.

The carriage 121 and the nozzle 122 rotate about fixed axes, either intermittently or continuously. Material which is compacted by and advances beyond the rollers 130, 132 moves into the range of twisting members 434 whereby such twisting members form cords or ropes of twisted material and force such material into and through the registering cells 436. It is immaterial whether the carriage 121 is located at a level above or below the nozzle 122. In order to raise the output of the press, the nozzle 122 is preferably provided with two or even three or more annuli of cells 436 and the carriage 121 is then provided with a corresponding number of annuli of twisting members 434.

It is assumed that the carriage 121 and nozzle 122 are rotated intermittently. One form of a drive which can effect such rotary movements is illustrated in FIG. 13. This drive further comprises means for rotating the twisting members 434 with reference to the carriage 121, always at a time when a twisting member registers with one of the cells 436 or when a set of two or more twisting members registers with an equal number of cells in the nozzle 122. The twisting members 434 are rotatable in antifriction bearings 148 of the carriage 121 and each thereof is provided with a bevel gear 450 which comes into torque-receiving engagement with a driven rubbercoated friction wheel 152 immediately or shortly before the corresponding twisting member registers with a cell 436. Each of the friction wheels 152 is mounted on a shaft 154 carrying a bevel gear 156 in mesh with a bevel gear 158 on a shaft which extends diametrically of the carriage 121 and rotates therewith to thereby rotate the bevel gear 156. Each shaft 154 is mounted in a supporting structure 160 which is rotatably carried by the frame of the press. The carriage 121 of FIGS. 11 and 13 has two annuli of twisting members 434 and, therefore, the press comprises two friction wheels 152. If the twisting members 434 form three or more annuli, the twisting members of the two outermost annuli are driven by the two friction wheels 152 and the twisting members of the remaining (intermediate) annulus or annuli derive periodic rotary motion from the twisting members of the outer annuli, for example, by way of rack and pinion drives or the like. It is clear that FIG. 13 merely illustrates one presently preferred form of drive means for the twisting members 434', such twisting members can be rotated with equal facility by resorting to a pneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic or otherwise constructed drive. It is also possible to employ spring motors, i.e., devices wherein energy is stored by springs and wherein such energy is released by appropriate control means when a twisting member 434 register with one of the cells 436.

It suffices to rotate the carriage 121 or the nozzle 122. These parts are preferably provided with meshing gears 164 and 162 which insure that the part 121 rotates in response to rotation of the part 122, or vice versa. One of the gears 162, 164 meshes with a driver pinion or gear (not shown) which receives motion from the input shaft of the press (such as the input shaft 16 of FIG. 1) or directly from the power plant ofa self-propelled press. Thejust mentioned pinion can also mesh with a separate ring gear of the carnage 121 or nozzle 122.

FIG. 12 illustrates a portion of a press which constitutes a slight modification of the press shown in FIG. 11. The compacting unit 124 of FIG. 11 is replaced by a unit including two endless flexible elements (belts or chains) 136, 138 trained around pairs of pulleys or sprockets 142, 144. The outer sides of the elements 136, 138 are provided with motion transmitting ribs, teeth or analogous projections 140. The members 142 and/or 144 are driven to advance the elements 136, 138 in directions indicated by arrows. The stretches 136a, 1380 of these elements then advance a continuous or discontinuous mat of material into the range of twisting members 434 in the carriage 121. The gap between the stretches 136a, 138a preferably decreases in height in a direction toward the parts 121, 122. Final compression of material takes place during transport through the cells 434 of the nozzle 122. The intake end of the gap between the stretches 136a, 138a receives partially compacted material from the screw 20.

The parts 124 and 136-144 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be replaced by reciprocatory, vibratory, oscillatory or otherwise movable compacting or condensing units, such as rakes, pistons, grippers and/or the like. An advantage of structures shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is that the carrier 121 and nozzle 122 receive a continuous supply of compacted material. This is due to the fact that the compacting units shown in these Figures employ continuously revolving components.

Another means for effecting a preliminary compacting action can include a chamber at least one wall ofwhich is elastic, i.e., wherein at least one wall constitutes a diaphragm which yields in response to admission 0] material and cooperates with the remaining wall or walls to compact the material prior to and/or during twisting. Such a chamber can serve as a means for compacting and for simultaneously conveying fibrous material into the range of one or more twisting members. For example, the chamber or the housing which defines the chamber may have a series of constrictions or throats surrounding the path along which the material travels into the range of revolving twisting members. The means for forming the constrictions may be operated hydraulically or in another suitable way.

The storage compartment which was mentioned in connection with FIGS. l-4 may be surrounded by an elastic diaphragm which expands when the chamber 30 of FIG. 2 receives an excessive supply of fibrous material. The diaphragm contracts and returns stored material into the chamber 30 when the pressure in such chamber decreases. The provision of such diaphragm insures that the chamber 30 invariably contains the same or nearly the same amounts of material even if the screw fails to deliver material at a constant rate. However, it was found that the screw 20 of FIGS. 1 to 3 suffices to normally insure a rather continuous and uniform feed of material into the chamber 30.

The nozzle or nozzles of my apparatus may be further provided with holders which extend into the path of movement of material passing through the cells and can move laterally, either to permit evacuation of compacted bodies from the cells or to effect ejection of such bodies from the cells. The apparatus may also comprise detectors or pressure measuring devices which regulate the operation of such holders and insure that the final compacting pressure does not exceed a predetermined maximum value.

As stated before, the twisting members are provided with projections in the form of prongs or analogous twisting elements (such as the prongs 166 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) which can readily penetrate into compacted material. The prongs 166 are preferably pointed and are eccentric to the axes of rotation of the twisting members so that the material is convoluted therearound and is readily introduced into registering cells. If desired, the cells and/or the twisting members may be of conical shape to insure proper entry of twisting members even if they are not in full axial alignment with the cells. It is also possible to coat the external surfaces of twisting members and/or the internal surfaces of cells with liners of elastic material to insure satisfactory penetration of partially misaligned twisting members.

As further shown in FIG. 14, each twisting member 534 can be provided with an annular cutter or knife 168 which cooperates with a complementary cutter or knife 570 of the nozzle 36a to insure neat trimming and rapid and complete separation of bricks 26 from the mass of material in the chamber 30. Furthermore, such severing or trimming prevents plugging of cells and excessive pressures in the chamber in which the material is stored prior to admission into cells. The cutter 570 is disposed at and surrounds the intake end of the cell 36. In the embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 14, the prongs 166 are rigid and preferably integral with the twisting member 534. However, and as shown in FIG. 15, it is equally possible to employ prongs 666 which are movable with reference to the twisting member 634. In this embodiment of the invention, the tips of the prongs 666 are movable radially toward and away from each other and are pivotable on a pin 174 which is received in an elongated slot 176 provided in an axially reciprocable pivoting element or sleeve 172. The latter has a follower rod 172a which is movable axially by a cam (not shown). The prongs 666 are biased apart by one or more springs 178 which yield when the sleeve 172 is moved downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 15, to move the tips of the prongs nearer to each other. The rod 172a reciprocates in automatic response to rotation of the twisting member 634. The forward (lower) end of the sleeve 172 engages suitably inclined edge faces 180, 182 of the prongs 666. The arrangement is such that the tips of the prongs 666 are caused to move nearer to each other when the twisting element 634 travels toward the registering cell 36. This insures that the batch of material carried by the twisting member can be readily introduced into the cell.

It is equally possible to provide each twisting member with one or more helical prongs or with prongs which are retracted axially into the interior of the twisting member when the latter approaches or penetrates into a cell. This insures that the batch of compacted material is automatically separated from the twisting member.

All illustrated embodiments of my improved press exhibit the common feature that they comprise a pickup member 18 or analogous collecting means which can collect material off the ground or which can mow the material prior to delivering it into the range of a feed conveyor. The feed conveyor preferably effects at least some initial compression or compacting of the material and delivers such material into a compacting chamber or into the range of final compacting means before the material moves into the range of twisting members. These twisting members can move the material in a direction at right angles to the direction of transport by the feed and cause the material to pass through cells wherein the material undergoes a final compacting action. As stated before, batches of material which are forced by twisting members to pass through the cells are severed from the remainder of material so that they form cylindrical bricks or otherwise configurated bodies of compacted material which are ready to be received by the take-off conveyor for delivery to a conveyance.

Finally, it is equally possible to employ in the improved press twisting members which are mounted for axial reciprocatory movement and cooperate with rotary cells to thus bring about a twisting action which produces cakes, bricks, cylinders or otherwise shaped bodies of compacted fodder. In such a press, the internal surfaces of cells are preferably provided with prongs, teeth, threads, ribs or analogous protuberances which replace or complement the prongs of the twisting members and insure accurately predictable twisting of material. The ultimate product is more likely to retain its shape if the twisting elements and/or other parts which come into contact with the material are heated. Furthermore, the nutritive value and/or other characteristics of compacted material may be improved by continuous or intermittent addition of other substances, such as water, molasses, vitamins, minerals, and/or others. Molasses, salt and/or vitamins will be added to enhance the appetite of animals and/or to compensate for absence of certain nutritive ingredients in fodder.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of producing shape-retaining bodies of fodder or like fibrous material, comprising a first step of compacting a substantial supply of material; a second step of subjecting batches of the thus compacted supply to a twisting action to form discrete ropes of twisted material; and a third step of compacting and shaping said ropes independently from each other.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said third step takes place concurrently with said second step.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said third step follows said second step.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ropes are compacted and shaped seriatim.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting the material off the ground prior to said first step.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing into the material at least one additive prior to completion of said third step.

7. A method of producing shape-retaining bodies of fodder or like fibrous material comprising a first step of subjecting fibrous material to at least one preliminary compacting action; a second step of subjecting the thus compacted material to a twisting action to convert it into at least one rope of fibrous particles; and a third step of conveying the rope along a confining path wherein the rope is subjected at least to radial compacting stresses; and a fourth step of trimming the resulting shaped compacted body.

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1. A method of producing shape-retaining bodies of fodder or like fibrous material, comprising a first step of compacting a substantial supply of material; a second step of subjecting batches of the thus compacted supply to a twisting action to form discrete ropes of twisted material; and a third step of compacting and shaping said ropes independently from each other.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said third step takes place concurrently with said second step.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said third step follows said second step.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ropes are compacted and shaped seriatim.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting the material off the ground prior to said first step.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing into the material at least one additive prior to completion of said third step.
 7. A method of producing shape-retaining bodies of fodder or like fibrous material comprising a first step of subjecting fibrous material to at least one preliminary compacting action; a second step of subjecting the thus compacted material to a twisting action to conveRt it into at least one rope of fibrous particles; and a third step of conveying the rope along a confining path wherein the rope is subjected at least to radial compacting stresses; and a fourth step of trimming the resulting shaped compacted body. 